Bob Hughes, a member of the campaign group, said Mr Pir had arrived in the UK 18 months ago after some "traumatic experiences" in Afghanistan.

These are people who come to England hoping for safety and they are treated with suspicion.

Bob Hughes

He was then relocated to Bristol while his application for asylum was processed.

Mr Hughes said Mr Pir had claimed he had been shot several times in the legs by the Taliban.

He said Mr Pir, who was born in Pakistan, had also claimed several members of his extended family were killed in Afghanistan and that he had lost touch with his parents.

"He was a young and frightened man. He had that haunted look about him, but the rejection from the Home Office told him that they considered that he was lying," said Mr Hughes.

"His application had been refused, he had no home to go back to.

"He had nobody around him - he just did not know what he was going to do. It was a very depressing situation."

A funeral was held for Mr Pir at a Mosque in the Easton area of Bristol.

Police called

A spokesman for Refugee Action, a national charity which provides help and advice to asylum seekers, described Mr Pir's case as "desperately sad".

"It is thoroughly sad and distressing, and in some ways is indicative of what asylum seekers go through."

A Home Office spokeswoman said Mr Pir was found in his accommodation at 1300 BST on 4 May.

She said the police were called and his case was referred to the coroner.